Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	great_a	king_n	people_n	22,314	5	4.6764	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10563	Of publique reformation of a church		1589 (1589)	STC 20834.3; ESTC S2296	4,277	1

OF PVBLIQVE REFORMATION OF A CHVRCH Of this Reformation we are to know What it is This reformation is a bringing of men back vnto God by puting away euil and by renewing the performance of all holy dueties decayed especially in the publique societies of Gods children 2. Chron 19. 4 2. Chron. 34. 35. 2. King 18. 4. 23. 4. 20. 2. Kings 23. 21. 2. Chron. 29 3 25. 30. 30. per totum 31. 2. ad finem 2 The necessitie of it which may appeare 1 By the commanundement of the Lord not only exacting of euery see man repentance whereof this is a most solemne kinde but also geuing charge for this matter Ier. 7. 23 24 1. King 18. 36 Psalme 2. 2 By the extraordinarie ministerie of Prophets and other persons when God so often reysed vp taught and assisted extraordinarilie that they might be his instruments to bring men again to God and to reforme things amisse Which extraordinarie worke if the Lord done for the reformation of his Church declareth the necessitie of it 3 By the fearefull plagues which God brought vpon the neglectors of reformation Eli because he reclaimed not his sonnes and so the people which for the great iniquitie of the young men abhorred the offering of the Lord lost the Priesthoode and make his necke The young men also perished in a great slaughter of the people 1. Sam. 2. 4 Ioash and his people because they would not obey the word of the Lord in the mouth of Zachariah to reforme that which was amisse were forsaken of the Lord and deliuered into the hands of their enemies 2. Chron. 24. 20. 25 For this cause the people of Amaziah fell before Ioash Ierusalem was sacked the king himselfe taken prisoner and afterward slaine by treason 2. Chron. 25. 16. 23. 24. 27. 3 The parts of this reformation which are 1 Suppresūng of euery idolatrous superstitious filthy and strange hind doctrine office vse or ceremonie remayning Wherein heede must be taken that no remnant of the aforesaid be suffered to contunie because such remnants prouoke God to anger and were alwaies hurtfull to the Church Iudg. 8. 27. 2. Chron. 20. 23. 2 Conforming and reducing of the whole state of the Church that is to say of the doctrine officers forme of gouernment order c. of it to their auntient integritie that is to the prescription of the word or of Christ and his Apostles wherby the Church was first established See the 5. point 2. Kings 23. 24. 2. Chron. 29. 25. 4 The persons who are to work this reformation which are these 1 The author efficient cause of reformations God himselfe Esai 62. 7. who if he turne not the hearts of men to obey his seruants perswading to reformation it is because hee mindeth to destroy them 2. Chron. 25. 16. 20. 1. Sam. 2. 25. Pro. 21. 12. 2 The instrumēts wh●ch the Lord hath sanctified for this worke these are 1 The prince whose duetie is 1 To call and compell both ministers and people to returne to the ordinances of the Lord set down in his word 2. Kings 2● 2. Ch●on 29. 4. 5 15. 2 To be himselfe formost in the pra●ise of publique actions of godlines that his example may ●…ere vp and strengthen other 2. Sam. 6. 2. 5. 15. 16. 2. Kings 23. 2. 3. 3 To make lawes for the co●… of reformation 2. Chron. 15. 13. 2 The ministers to whō it belongs 1 To pray earnestly and contenually into the Lord for the setting vp and reforming of his Church Esay 62. 7 2 To make knowen the word of Gain that behalfe to the Prince and people 2. Kings 2● 8. Exod. 4. 14 5. 1. 3 To ioyne with the people and to ●oe before them in all their suites to them in authoritie for reformation Esay 62. 10. Exod. 4. 5. 3 So many of the people especially of the Elders know the will of God to whom it belongeth not onely to ioyne in prayers is God for the good of his people Hest 4. 16. but also in prayer and godlines to ioyne in this sun with the ministers 1. Kings 18. 30. Exod. 3. 18. and at the Princes commandement to deface the monuments of idolatrie 2. Kin. 11 18. 10. 27. 5 The rule and squere whereby the seruantes of the Lord must perform this reformation which is the word onely of which we are to obserue 1 The reasons why the word is to be used for the only rule of reformation which are First seeing to reforme a church is nothing els buthe renewing of the first building and beautie of it and by the word only it was first built vp beautified therfore by it also it must be reformed Secondly forasmuch as the redressing of euery mus seuerall wayes is to be performed by the word Psal 11 9. a whole church cannot otherwise be reformed Thirdly sith the Lord reprouing the vngodly for haing reformation verifieth it hereby because they cast his lawes behind their backs Psal 50. it cannot be auoyded but the reformation of a church is to be deruied from the word 4 By the examples of such as at the commandement of God haue either accomplished or laboured any such reformation who alwayes haue brought and called men to the rules of the word of God 2. Kings 23. 2. 3. Nehem. 8. 1. 2. 3. 4. Nehem. 10. 29. Gal. 6. 16. Reuel 3. 3 2 The man not how to vse this rule aright wher men are to obserue that in Abolishing things they must iudge by the word what 's idolatrous what superstitious what strange or crept in without warrant from the Lord. c. and so to abolish them Cōforming if it be In matters of discipline 1 Where expresse commandementes of Christ and examples of the churches are found 1 They must carefully marke of these commaundements and examples which are tempora●… and extraordinarie which otherwise 2 They must embrace and 〈◊〉 without gainesaying and condictious that which is ordinarie not onely as the best but as the onely true and allowed ordinances of the Lord leauing the extraordinarie things to the Lord or whole only power it is to break the ordinarie rules of his word 2 Where expresse direction i● not found as in some matters of order and other circumstances they must take heed that they admit● nothing which is contrarie to the generall rules ●f order comelines and edification set down in the word In doctrine likewise where expresse and lasting rules are found they must receiue them as the vndoubted Oracles of God where any thing is in question that hath not such pla 〈…〉 es they must order and determine euery matter by the analogie of faith 6 The aduersarie eudeuors against in where we are to note the wilines of Sathan which hath a seuerall charmeta bring a sleep it it may be euery one that hath any hand in the worke as for the 1 Prince he putteth into his head by flattering courtiers c. 1 That these seekers of reformation entend

of strengthen themselues that they may the better rebell against him Nehem. 2. 9. whereas the ende of reformation is that no disobedient person may he suffered Rom. 13. 1. and reformation hath neuer suffered men to rebell against the enemies of it how much lesse wil it against the friends 2 That such exquisite reformation wil make 〈◊〉 and withdraw the people from following their vocations Exod. 5. 4. wheras contrariwise reformation cannot away with any that walke ●…ly 2. Thess 3. 6. 3 That it is the honor of Princes not to correct the doings of their godly auncestors 1 Kings 12. 14. whereas the godly kings are commended for reforming not onely that which their wicked auncestors brought in but also which their godly predocessors left vnreformed 2. Chron. 35. 18. 30. 5. 2. King 18. 4. 4 That such Reformation wil be more troublesome ●han commodious which declareth that these politiques are possessed with a lying spirite for how know they that the Lord will not geue a blessing of peace to his owne ordinarie 2. Chron. 15 7. Againe what deuill taught them that greater trouble then commoditie would be in seruing God as through the abandoning of euill made not the troubles susteyed therein great commodities and blessings to him that suffered them 2 Ministers he moueth tyrantes to draw them back 1 By accusing them to be pestulent and seditions fellowes and mainteyners of fortes Actes 24. 5. Heretiques Actes 24. 14. 〈◊〉 persons Ierem. 15. 10. troublers oft estate 1. Kings 18. 17. 2 By imprisoning them Ierem 20. 2. and threatning them with death except they cease Exod. 10. 28. 2. Chron. 25. 16. Iere. 11. 21. yea many times slaying some of them to 〈◊〉 other from following the worke of the Lord. 3 By causing their frends to forsake them Tit. 4. 10. 16. Al these things being promoters of the ministers blessednes Mat. 5. ought to make them more bold and forwarde in the worke Actes 9. 21. Actes 13. 45. 46. Philip. 1. 14. knowing that the Lord will assist them Tit. 4. 17. 3 The peple whom he seketh to hinder also 1 By vpbrayding them with lack of learning and knowledge Iohn 7. 40. 2 By causing tyrants to oppresse them by all vngodlymenes Exod. 5. 6. 7. 8. 3 By sending out false teachers to withdraw them Against all which the people must arme themselues with knowledge and patience not forsaking the worke of the Lord for any thing 7 The solēnitie manner of receiuing this reformation after the hinderances therof ouercome wherof we are to know 1 The pointes seuerall degrees of this solemnitie which are 1 A gathering together of all the states of that place where the reformation is to be made 2. Kings 23. 1. 2. Nehe. 8. 1. 2 A faithfull laying open of the word by preaching in the cares of them all that they may see where reformation wanteth 2. Chron. 34. ●0 Nehem. 8. 4. 8. 3 〈◊〉 prayer with praysing of God for his godnes in 〈…〉 them a sight of their wants and a way to reforme them with humble confession of their former rebellions disobediences and backslidings Nehem. 8. 6. to the end 4 A solemne couenant to be made with God by the whole state 2. Kings 11. 17. 2 Chron. 15. 14. 15. In which couenant they promise hence forwarde to forsake all their own ways and intentions and to cleaue to the commandments of God alone Vnto this promise was adioyned an oath and a curse or desire of vengeance to come vpon themselues if they forsake the wayes of the Lord for any other 2. Kings 11. 17. Nehem. 10 29. 2 The reasōs why such maner of receiuing this reformation is needfull which are 1 Because in a publique deformation of the Church the couenant of our peace is generally broken wherefore it behoueth vs in returning and reforming our selues to renewe the same couenant as generally and that in as solemne maner as may be seeing we are to deale not with earth and ashes but with the God of infinite maiestie with whom to deale in light and dissolute manner especially in such a worke were great sinne 2 Because of the commandement of the Lord who in the publique rebellion of Prince and people chargeth them which are in authoritie with that people not only to receiue instruction to reioyce before the Lord in trembling c. but moreouer requireth of them and theirs a solemne couenant and the outward testimonie of it if they wil auoyde the anger of God Psalme 2. 8 The frutes blessinges which folow the receuers workers of this reformation the Lord alwais geueth a reward vnto it 2. Chron. 15. 7. Forhe 1 Heareth the voice of such and their prayer commeth vp into hearin to his holy habitation 2. Chron. 30. 27. 2 Forgeueth their former transgressions and though they were is red as crimsen or scarlet he maketh them as white as snow or wooll Esay 1. 18. 19. 3 Causeth them to dwell in their own land and not to remoue Ierem. 4. 1. 7. 3. 4 Maketh them to eate the good of the land Esay 1. 19. 62. 89. yea he openeth the windowes of heauen and powreth down vpon them the blessings of the earth in aboundance Malach 3. 10. 5 Geueth them rest and quietnes from their enemies 2. Kings 11. 20. 2. Chron. 14. 5. 15. 15. 19. 20. 30. Esay 31. 7. 8. 9. 6 Geueth them strange victories and mighty great spoyles of their enemies 2. Chron. 14. 12 15. 15. 2. 20. 14. 23. 7 Maketh them to rule ouer many nations suffereth not other to raigne ouer thē Deu. 15. 6. 8 Maketh at things to prosper that they take in hand 2. Kings 18. 7. 9 Geueth to that Prince honor riches in aboundance establishing the kingdome in his hand 2. Chron. 17. 5. These and infinite blessinges follow this Reformation wherefore they that wilfully withstande it euidently declare that they seeke not the wealth peace plentie godly preheminence and flourishing estate of their Prince and Countrey FINIS